The State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality Mrs. Ketevan Tsikhelashvili took part into the international conference “Security in the Black Sea Region” in Batumi, under the arrangement of Konrad-Adenauer Stiftung.
The State Minister gave a brief overview of the situation in the occupied regions, with an emphasis on flagrant violation of human rights, including the restrictions that are imposed on freedom of movement, property rights and education into native language for ethnic-Georgian residents of Gali district.
Mrs. Tsikhelashvili also spoke about the development of Geneva International Discussions, noting that Russia tries to politicize even such humanitarian issues, as is the right of IDPs to return to their areas of residence.
According to Mrs. Tsikhelashvili, the Government of Georgia considers the peaceful policy as the only path to conflict settlement, which seeks to promote peace and stability in Georgia and elsewhere in the region that is not directed against anyone.
According to the estimates of State Minister, since the recognition of so called “independence” of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali in 2008, Russia gained exclusive control on all spheres of lives on these territories. However, the Abkhazian society is actually aware of threats stemming from Russification and remains mindful of its own identity which is under serious risk.
The screening of short video (prepared by the State Minister’s Office) also took place at the conference, which portrays the lives of IDPs and residents who live in the vanity of occupation line.